Hydraulic periscope elevating system



INVENTOR.

ERNST 0. KOLLMORGEN BY f Mii-Lun,

E. o. KoLLMoRGEN HYDRAULIC PERISCOPE ELEVATIFNG SYSTEM Filed Aug. 22,194e T PRESSURE PER/SCOPE HO/ST :SELECTOR April 11, 195o HE/GHT`@AHORA/5v5.

Patented Apr. l1, 1950 Y HYDRAULIC PERISCPE ELEvA'rINol SYSTEM Ernst 0.yKollmorgen, Molillxwntain` Lakes, NeJ., as-

YsignorV to Kollmorglend-Optical Corporation, Brooklyn, N. Y., acorporation of New York Application August 22, 1946;- Serial No; 692,223

(CII J88'-'69`) 9 Claims.

Y l .'.This'invention relates to elevating mechanisms'for-submarineperiscopes and it relates particu- `'larly :to animprovedhydraulic elevating system y .,vvhereby'the periscope of a submarine maybe :elevated or retracted andthe length of the periscope variedas'ldesired. 1

The periscopes of submarines are ordinarily elevated or retracted bymeansr of a-hydraulic vsystem which usually includes a pair of hydraulic"lift cylinders or jacks which are suspended overheadon opposite sidesof the periscope and are connected by means of a yoke to the periscope.Theyoke includes a bearing in whichvthe periscope is mounted so that itcan be rotated about its axis: j H Y f i Periscopes can be constructedin a plurality of sections lincluding a tip section which can-beprojected and retracted With'respect to the body of the periscope. Inthis way, the overall length of the periscope can be varied tocompensate for the `height of waves and the depth of the vsub- -marineand the like.

-It hasbeen'impractical to use hydraulic systems for both elevating andretracting the periscope-bodily and also extending and retracting themovable section of the periscope; Thereason for this is that the rotarymount `for the periscope makes it diicult to provide a leak-proof jointor connection between the `source of hydraulic pressure and `the.periscope itself, While maintaining lfreedom of, rotation of theperiscope.A

v Inaccordance Vvviththe present invention an "el'evating mechanismis-provided Whichk is operf able :by hydraulic pressure'and in whichhydraulic -gfluidfmay be conducted AVfrom the lifting mechanism'into theperiscope for -projectingfand reytracting the sections of the periscopeWithout danger of leakage of hydraulic fluid and without the use-ofcomplicated leak-proofnttings or con- `'nect'ions. y More particularly,an elevating system is pro- )vided wherein a hydraulic` jack or Aliftcylinder is mounted co-axially withthe periscope and the l periscope ismounted directly on the piston rod of the jack whereby as the pistonrodis projected, i

tracted telescopically into 'the main periscope;A

.tube o rfbarrel. VThe tip section of the periscope may-be projected andretracted by means of a hydraulic-jack.

Hydraulic fluid is led through the piston rod of the projecting andretracting cylinder tothe jack within the periscope and maybe controlledby means of a suitable selector valve. In this vvay,v rotary connectionsbetween the periscope and-the source of hydraulic pressure areeliminated Withoutrestricting the movement of the periscope in any Way.

For a-betterunderstanding of the presentinvention, reference may be hadto the accompanying drawings, in which v Figure 1 is a View in sideelevation of a typical periscope and an elevating system therefor; the

fwell for receiving the periscope being illustrated diagrammatically; l

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation of the periscope disclosed inFigure 1 and with the periscope fully extended; and

Figure 3 is a view in vertical section and partly broken view of theperiscope and its elevating mechanism,v illustrating details ofconstruction and showing the control valves diagrammatically. l"The formof periscope I0 chosen for purposes ofA 'illustration includes aconventional optical system, which is not illustrated inasmuch as the.optical system does not form a part of the present invention.

The periscope l0, as illustrated, may include a main body tube or barrell l of generally tubular or cylindrical form which contains the opticalsystem and other elements to be described. The barrel Il may besupported for axial and rotary movement in liquid-tight guides in thehull of the submarine in the usual Way. The periscope lll further'includes a tip section l2 of tubular form which is mounted slidably inthe barrel' ll and can be extended and retracted at will.

In accordance with the present invention, the

periscope llly is mounted on a piston rod I3 which yis connected rigidlyto a piston I4 that is roitatably and axially movable Within the jackcylinder l5. The cylinder l5 is provided with fluid inlet and returnports I6 and I1 at its opposite ends, these ports being connected bymeans ofa suitable four-port selector valve I8 of conventionalconstruction to a conduit I9, whichsup` plies hydraulic fluid underpressure, and to a suitable return conduit 20 by means of which thehydraulic iiuid can be discharged from the cylinder; The selector valveI8 may be ofthe rotary valve type or of the four valve poppet type whichis so arranged that when the valve control handle is moved to oneposition, the pressure line I9 is connected to the conduit I'I, and theconduit I6 is connected to the return conduit 20. The position of thevalve can be reversed so that the pressure line I9 can be connected tothe conduit It while the conduit II is connected to the return line 20.The valve, when allowed to move to an intermediate position, disconnectsthe pressure line I9 and the return line 20 from the conduits I6 and IIand from each other so that the liquid present in the cylinder I5 istrapped on opposite sides of the piston I4, thereby locking the pistonin the position it has assumed in the cylinder. When the selector valveI8 is actuated to supply hydraulic uid from conduit I9 to the inlet portII, the piston I4 is forced upwardly, thereby elevating the periscope Iwhile any-fluid present in the cylinder above the piston I4 isdischarged through the port I6, and through the selector valve I8, tothe return conduit 20. An anti-frictionbearing Illa maybe mounted in thecylinder I 'or on the piston I4, as shown in Figure 3, to facilitaterotation of the periscope when it is elevated.

In order to lower the periscope Ii), the selector valve I8 may beactuated to connect the port I6 lwith the fluid supply conduit IS andthe port II to the return conduit 20, whereby the piston I4 is -forceddownwardly, retra-cting the periscope into the perisc-ope well 2l `whichis formed within the hull and keel of the submarine.

It will be understood that diierent types of hydraulic lift cylindersmay be used than that disclosed in the drawings and described above and,if desired, a cylinder may be provided with a piston lock to lock thepiston against axial movement at the upper end of its stroke, as isconventional in many diierent types of hydraulic jacks and liftcylinders now produced.

The piston'rod I3 preferably is formed of concentric tubes i3d and 31).The inner tube I3b `extends entirely through the piston I4 and com--municates with thecylinder below the piston I4.

The outer tube i3d is provided with a port Szi which communicates withthe interior of the cylinder I5 above the piston I4. The inner and outertubes I3aand @3b are connected to a four-port selector valve 22,1ike thevalve I8 described above, mounted-within the periscope barrel I I andhaving a control handle which is operable from the exterior of thebarrel il. The valve 22 has a port which is connected by means of aconduit '23"to the upper ends of the cylinders 24 and 24 which are usedfor projecting and retracting the tip section I2. The lower end of thetip section I2 is connected by means oi' piston rods 25 and `25 lto thelpistons E6 and 2t which are slidable space above the pistons 26 and 25to retract the tip section I2 or to the space below the pistons 26 and26 to project or elevate the tip section I2. Thus, when hydraulic fluidis supplied to the inlet I'I of the cylinder I5, the piston I4 and theperiscope I0 are lifted simultaneously. At the same time hydraulic fluidunder pressure is delivered through the tube [3b to the selector valve22, After the periscope Ii) has been elevated completely with the tipsection I2 retracted, the tip section I2 can be projected eithercompletely to the top of the barrel II or to any intermediate positionwith respect to the barrel II. Any fluid present above the pistons 26and 26 is 4discharged through the conduit 23, the selector valve 22, theouter tube ISa to' the return port I6 of the cylinder.

If the tip section I2 has been projected too far, the selector valve 22may be actuated to direct the uid from the tube ESI) into the cylinders24 and 24 the pistons 26 and 26', thereby forcing the tip section I2downwardly to a desired position. With the selector valve 22 in aneutral position with all ports closed, the tip section is retained inposition because of the presence of fluid trapped on opposite sides ofthe pistons 26 and 26'.

In order to prevent the piston i4 from dropping in the cylinder I5 asthe tip section lI2 is projected or retracted, the piston llock referredto above may be provided, or the size of the cylinders I5 and 224 and 24may be so proportioned that flow of fluid 4into the latter cylinderswill not lower the pressure in the cylinder I5 suinciently to permit theperiscope I0 to drop bodily.

It will be apparent lfrom the preceding description that an elevatingmechanism has been pr-ovided which permits elevation and retraction ofthe entire periscope lI 0, and also independent adjustment of the tipsection I2 with respect to the barrel Il. In this way, the elevation ofthe periscope, necessary to permit proper visi-on, can be obtainedwithout extending the periscope too far above the water where it mightbe detected.

-It will be understood, of course, that the periscope may be vof anydesired type and can be m-odied -substantially without departing fromthe invention.

housing for projecting said extension and retracting it relatively tosaid housing, a hydraulic jack for elevating and retractingr saidperiscope, said jack having a hollow piston rod xedly connected to saidhousing in axial alignment therewith for supplying fluid from theinterior of said jack to said hydraulic motor and supporting saidperiscope, and valve means carried by said housing for controlling thesupply of'fluid from said jack to said hydraulic motor to project andretract said extension.

2. A periscope elevating system comprising a periscope having a lowerhousing and a relatively longitudinally movable extension, a reversiblehydraulic motor for projecting saidextension and retracting itrelativelyto said housing, a hydraulic jack below said housing, saidjack having a cylinder, apiston 4and a hollow piston rod coaxial withand vxed to said periscope for elevating and lowering said periscopebodily, said rod having passages therein communicating with saidcylinder on opposite sides of said piston for supplying `huid-from saidcylinder to said hydraulic motor and returning fluid from saidhydraulic-motor to yhydraulic jack having a cylinder, a piston and apiston rod, said rod having a first passage therein communicating withthe interiorlofsaid cylinder on onev side of said -piston and a secondpassage therein communicating with the interior of said cylinder on theopposite side of said piston, means atI opposite ends of saidcylinderforsupplyinghydraulic iluid to Yand withdrawing" it from said cylinderand passages, a periscope mo'untedlonsaid piston rod for movement there-Withjsaid-periscope having an axiallyniov'a-ble extension, a secondhydraulic jack in said periscope to move said extension axially, portsin said second jack to introduce and discharge fluid to actuate the jackto move said extension in either direction, and means including a valvefor selectively connecting one of said passages to one of said ports andthe other passage to another of said ports to actuate said second jackin one direction, and to reverse the connection between said ports andpassages to actuate the second jack in the opposite direction.

4. An elevating system for a periscope having an outer tubular housingand a telescopically related and relatively movable extension,comprising an elongated hollow cylinder, a Ipiston slidably mounted insaid cylinder for reciprocating and rotary movement, a piston rodnonrotatably connecting said piston and said housing for elevating andretracting said periscope and communicating with said cylinder, saidpiston rod having passages therein connected with said cylinder atopposite sides of said piston, a reversible hydraulic motor in saidhousing connected with said passages, and valve means interposed betweensaid hydraulic motor and said passages for connecting, disconnecting andreversing the connections between said motor and said passages forcontrolling said hydraulic means to elevate, stop and retract saidextension.

5. A periscope elevating system comprising a hydraulic jack having acylinder, and a piston and piston rod movable axially of and rotatablerelative to said cylinder, means for selectively supplying hydraulicfluid to and discharging it from said cylinder on opposite sides of saidpiston to move said piston and piston rod axially of said cylinder, aperiscope fixed to said piston rod for bodily movement therewith, saidperiscope having an axially movable extension, a reversible hydraulicmotor for moving said extension axially, separate passages in saidsystem rod communicating with saidcylinder on opposite sides of saidpiston, and xed connections, including a selector valve for starting,stopping and reversing the motor, interposed between said passages andsaid motor for supplying hydraulic fluid from said cylinder to saidreversible motor.

6. A periscope elevating system comprising a hydraulic jack having acylinder, and a piston and piston rod movable axially of and rotatablerelative to said cylinder, valve means for selectively supplying liquidto and discharging liquid from said cylinder at either side of saidpiston to move said piston and piston rod axially of said cylinder, aperiscope xed to said piston rod in axial alignment therewith, saidperiscope having an axially movable telescoping extension and reversiblehydraulic means for moving said extension axially inether' direction,passages extending through said piston rod for supplyingyliquid-fromsaid cylinder at one'side of said piston to saidhydraulic-means and discharging liquid from said hydraulic means tosaidV cylinder at vthe other side ofy said piston, and valve means1vinterposed--between said passages and said hydraulic means forcontrolling the direction of operation of and to stop said hydraulicmeans 'to movesaid extension axially and to retain it in axially movedposition. I

-7. A periscopeelevating system comprising a hydraulic jackA having acylinder, and a piston and `piston-rod movable axially of and rotatablerelative to said cylinder, valve means for selectivelyl supplying liquidto said cylinder to move lsaidi'pistonL and piston rod axially of saidcylinder,

a periscope xed to said Ipiston rod in axial alignment therewith, saidperiscope being rotatable with said piston and said piston rod relativeto said cylinder, said periscope having an axially movable telescopingextension and hydraulic means for moving said extension axially betweenprojected and retracted positions, passages in said piston rod forsupplying liquid from said cylinder at one side of said piston andwithdrawing it from said hydraulic means to the cylinder at the oppositeside of said piston, and a selector valve for controlling the supply ofliquid to and discharge of liquid from said hydraulic means to move saidextension axially and retain said extension in any desired axially movedposition.

8. In an elevating system for a periscope having a lower tubularhousing, a tubular extension telescopically mounted in said housing foraxial movement relative to said housing and means supporting saidhousing for axial and rotary movement; the combination of a firsthydraulic jack having a cylinder, a piston reciprocable and rotatable insaid cylinder, means for supplying liquid under pressure selectively tothe cylinder of the rst hydraulic jack on one side of piston anddischarging liquid from the cylinder on the other side of said piston tomove said piston in either direction, a piston rod fixed at one end tosaid piston and at its other end to said housing, whereby said housing,piston and piston rod are xedly connected and reciprocable and rotatableas a unit relative to said cylinder, separate passages in said pistonrod communicating with the interior of said cylinder on opposite sidesof said piston, a second hydraulic jack in said housing havingrelatively movable piston and cylinder elements connected to saidhousing and said extension for moving the extension axially relative tosaid housing in either direction, a selector valve on said housing, andxed conduits connecting said passages to said selector valve and thelatter to said second jack to supply iluid pressure from the cylinder ofsaid rst jack to the second jack under the control of said selectorvalve.

9. An elevating system for a periscope having a lower tubular housing,means supporting said housing for axial and rotary movement, and atubular extension telescopically mounted in said housing for axialmovement relative to said housing; the combination of a reversiblehydraulic motor mounted in said housing and having a driven elementconnected to said extension for moving said extension axially, ports insaid motor for receiving liquid under pressure and discharging liquid todrive said element selectively in either direction, a selector valveconnected to said ports for controlling supply of liquid to anddischarge of liquid from said ports to control the direction of movementof said element and said extension, a hydraulic jack having a cylinderand a relatively rotatable and axially movable piston and piston rod,means xedly connecting said housing to the outer end of said piston rodin axial alignment therewith, a pair of passages in said piston rod, oneof said passages communicating with the cylinder on one side of saidpiston and the other passage communicating with the cylinder on theopposite side of said piston, means for supplying fluid sel-ectively tothe lcylinder on one side of the piston and discharging liquid from thecylinder at the other side of said piston to project and retract saidpiston rod and said housing, and connections between said passages andsaid selector ERNST o. KOLLMORGEN.

REFERENCES' CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 15 1,175,609 1,313,534 ,1&65365 Name DateEvered Jan`- 30, 1894 Ridgeway June 213', 1903 Bailey sept. a. .1.9112Cottrell s 11- Mar. 14, 1916 Hoiman l Aug. 19, 19,19

